Where to bring your visiting friends in Dubai in an average budget

I always encourage my friends who plan to visit Dubai to do it between November and February for a maximized experience - simply because the rest of the year is either hot or too hot to go outdoors.

In the past 2 years, we've hosted and toured 4 batches of guests from Philippines and Singapore. They know what they want to see and experience but ideally they'd ask us to help figure out the best plan.

So the following is the most ideal plan I've come up with, considering that I can only be with them on weekends and nights after office.

For one week vacation or 8-9 day stay including 2 weekends, they should arrive Dubai on a Thursday night.

Plan a simple dinner on their arrival or just prepare something at home. Remember they are tired or jet-lagged so don't overdo this.

Day 1: Friday Iconic Tour

At The Top sunrise viewing - Book 5:30 in the morning to see both night and daytime view. Don't forget to check the weather - we don't want the sunrise to get spoiled. This schedule of viewing is only available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Time needed: 2 hours | Cost: AED125 per person if booked in advanced

Burj Khalifa - after At The Top, proceed to the Burj Park or the Dubai Fountain grounds as this is the best time of day to have a PERFECT photo without the crowd.Time needed: < 1 hour | Cost: 0

Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina Skydive grounds, Atlantis, JBR - Just a quick drive and drop and few clicks will do. Then have breakfast at The Walk or The Beach. Time needed: 3 hours | Cost: Food

The Box Park - On your way back to Downtown take the Al Wasl road so you can pass by this posh area made from artistically designed shipping containers.Time needed: 0.5 hour | Cost: 0

Downtown - Head back to Downtown for a fun Dubai Trolley rideTime needed: 0.5 hour | Cost: AED20 per person

Dubai Mall and the AquariumTime needed: 3 hours to stroll | Cost: 0

If they have additional budget, they may consider the Underwater ZooTime needed: 2 hours | Cost: AED150 per person for basic underwater observatory. | AED820 per person for a full experience which includes King Croc, Otter and Ray encounters in addition to the observatory, submersible simulator and glass bottom boat.

Dubai Fountain - Wait for the 6:00 or 6:30 fountain show and then have dinner afterwards.Time needed: 10 minutes | Cost: 0

Day 1 looks overwhelming right? But it's actually not. Many on the list are just quick stops for sight-seeing and photos - and that's a 'sulit' tour already.

Burj Khalifa without the crowd at 6:20am - December 26

Day 2: Saturday Abu Dhabi Tour

Ferrari World - The park opens at 11 in the morning, so leave Dubai around 10. You'll definitely stay for most part of the day here considering the queue time and lunch at Yas Mall. Don't ever allow your guests to miss the Formula Rossa - the world's fastest roller coaster ride.Time needed: 6 hours | Cost: AED350 per person - Tip: If you have Entertainer book, you'll have 2 buy-1-get-1 vouchers you can use here. If you don't have, ask your friends ;-)

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - Leave Yas Island around 4:30pm so you could still catch the grand mosque in both day and night views - it's stunning in daytime and majestic at night. Give more time as the ladies need to walk tens of meters to get abayas to use inside the mosque. Men, shorts are not allowed. Remind your guests about the most important policy - 'no touching, no holding hands' - even married couples must not.Time needed: 1.5 hours | Cost: 0

Aldar building or the "Coin building"- You will pass through this on your way to the grand mosque

Give it to Abu Dhabi for Day 2. If your guests want to see the Emirates Palace, then let them stay in the city for an extra day. Our guests didn't spend another day in the capital. They're more excited to see Dubai.

The following days have lesser itineraries - we allow the guests to tour the city on their own, then we meet after work for dinner.

Souk Madinat Jumeirah - an old-meets-new concept of shopping. Many of the best Dubai souvenirs are sold here (a bit pricey though). There's also a great dining experience by the lagoon. This ends up as one of the favorite places of our guests.Time needed: 2 hours | Cost: Food & Souvenirs

Al Qasba / Al Majaz Waterfront and Blue Souk in Sharjah - do this on a Friday morning so traffic is not an issue.Time needed: 1 hour | Cost: 0

Day 9: Send-off Saturday

Before sending them off, if you still have time, show them around what's popular Pinoy (or Asian) in Dubai.

Have lunch in Dampa or your favorite Pinoy restaurant

At The Top right after sunrise

Tip-ins
Always show them different routes. The sights of the streetlights and tunnels are already a delight for them. I don't pass the same roads as much as possible to show more of the city - one day we pass Sheikh Zayed Road, the next day we'll take Financial Centre or Jumeirah Beach road.

Encourage them to take the Dubai metro on their own.

Where to eat
QDs / Boardwalk by the creek is a good one for the view. If they're food explorers bring them to Special Ostadi in the Old Dubai for authentic kebabs, or to Zaroob for really nice Arabic street food flavors. Forget not the shawarmas in your corner cafeteria.

Where to stay
We booked some of our guests in 3-star hotels along Al Rigga, Deira because it's just so close to Union and Al Rigga Metro stations and they almost cost similar to AirBnB's apartments. A humble hotel is enough. After all, they won't stay much in the room. They just need a comfy place to sleep.

We also offer our home, so they save the hotel budget and/or delegate it for other experiences.

That's it! This has kinda become a template for me. But I'm pretty sure as years go by - this will change - this must change - and a week might not be enough for visitors to see the best of Dubai anymore.

So what is an average budget?
Ummm, around AED2,500 for a couple, excluding hotel and shopping expenses.--* First and last photo by my friend Cheoby